Average Rent in Topeka, KS (2026)

Typical asking rent in Topeka is $1,155. Across the 8 ZIP codes with data it runs from $999 to $1,651, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of September 2026.

Median rent
$1,155
Average rent
$1,204
Lowest ZIP
$999
Highest ZIP
$1,651

Rent by ZIP code in Topeka

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
66614Shawnee County$1,651+43%
66615Shawnee County$1,409+22%
66607Shawnee County$1,175+2%
66604Shawnee County$1,1580%
66611Shawnee County$1,1510%
66606Shawnee County$1,060-8%
66608Shawnee County$1,025-11%
66605Shawnee County$999-14%

Rent by bedroom count in Topeka

Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Shawnee County. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for.

Unit sizeFY2027 Fair Market RentChange from FY2026
Studio$866+9.3%
1 bedroom$913+11.3%
2 bedroom$1,172+10.9%
3 bedroom$1,564+12.4%
4 bedroom$1,586+12.4%

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.

Is rent going up or down in Topeka?

Typical rent across Shawnee County is $1,251 as of September 2026. That is up 4.6% from a year earlier and up 33.1% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Shawnee CountyChange
2021$965+10.7%
2022$1,053+9.1%
2023$1,112+5.5%
2024$1,181+6.3%
2025$1,219+3.2%
2026 (through September)$1,251+2.6%

Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.

Topeka rent questions

What is the average rent in Topeka, KS?
Typical asking rent in Topeka is $1,155 a month as of September 2026, across 8 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $999 to $1,651.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Topeka?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Shawnee County is $1,172 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $913 and a three bedroom is $1,564. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Topeka?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Shawnee County is $1,251 as of September 2026, up 4.6% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Topeka?
ZIP 66605 has the lowest typical asking rent in Topeka at $999 a month, compared with $1,155 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Topeka?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Topeka rent of $1,155, that is about $3,465 a month, or $41,580 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.

How to use these numbers

These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.

If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Topeka sits in the Topeka, KS metro area.

Other Kansas cities

Would a rental in Topeka cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Topeka median rent of $1,155 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.